Europe Eager to Diversify Gas Supply,But Wary of US LNG Import Risks

摘要

When about 400 government officials and business executives gathered in Brussels this month to promote US LNG sales to Europe,the tone turned from optimism to skepticism. Hosted by EU Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete and US Energy Secretary Rick Perry,the one-day meeting did result in pledges by Brussels to boost imports of US LNG to 8 billion cubic meters per year(774 million cubic feet per day)by 2023,more than double last year's level. Perry again reiterated US opposition to Gazprom's Nord Stream 2 pipeline,which he said would”drive Russian gas deep into the heart of Western Europe,empowering Russia to gain further leverage over European foreign policy.”To help Europe break that dependence,the EU said it is willing to import more US LNG”if the market conditions are right and prices competitive."